What’s The Right Welding Helmet for You?

Once you decide to go into the welding industry, a welding helmet is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will invest in. While all PPE is necessary for welding safety, a welding helmet safeguards one of your most valuable assets: your eyes. If you offer welding services without proper – or any – eye protection, it may cause inflammation of the cornea which is, essentially, the window of the eye.

As a result, the most crucial piece of welding PPE you can get is a good welding helmet. The variety of welding helmets available can be confusing, especially if you’re new to the industry. So let’s take a look at the different types of welding helmets available!

Solar Powered Welding Helmets

A battery is used to start solar powered welding helmets, and then solar power is used to keep them running. If you’ll be welding primarily outside, a solar powered helmet would be an excellent choice. The only thing to keep in mind is that the helmet will need to be recharged after each weld, so you’ll need a place to store it outdoors to catch some rays. Otherwise, you’ll have an empty battery when you come back to weld.

Auto-Darkening Helmets

An auto-darkening helmet responds to the light, darkening when the arc is struck and lowering lightening when the arc is completed. There are two types of helmets in this category: fixed shade and variable shade.

Fixed Shade: A fixed shade auto-darkening welding helmet darkens to a predetermined shade, commonly shade #10. If you operate with the same material and provide the same welding services, these are frequently less expensive than variable shade helmets.

Variable Shade: These helmets allow you to customize the shade’s darkness, making them more adaptable to various welding operations and indoor/outdoor conditions. If you’ll be grinding as well, make sure your welding helmet includes a grinding feature to prevent the auto-darkening tint from being triggered by the sparks.

How to Figure Out the Brightness?

If you see spots in your eyesight after a weld, go with a deeper hue the following time. While welding, it’s critical to safeguard your eyes because long-term damage can result in vision loss.

The most important thing to remember is the optimal setting: it should be just bright enough to view what you need to see while remaining dark enough to avoid eye fatigue.

Comfortable Fit

Your entire focus should be on the weld, not on that annoying ‘digging in’ sensation or, even worse, the fear of your helmet slipping. While welding, security is crucial, and your helmet must fit comfortably and securely; otherwise, it will not effectively protect you.

Before you choose a welding helmet, think about how much it weighs. When worn for extended periods of time, a hefty helmet can put a strain on the neck and head. Modern welding helmets are made of lightweight, durable materials, which have reduced this problem to some extent, but it is still something to consider before purchasing a welding helmet.

Additional Factors to Consider

• It must do the functions you require. The welding helmet you choose must make welding a comfortable and effective experience, whether it has auto-darkening or a broad lens.
• It must enable you to be productive. You’re more prone to make mistakes if you can’t see your weld correctly, which is every welder’s worst fear.
• Always read the reviews, particularly if you’re new to the business. The majority of welders are eager to share their knowledge, and you can learn a lot from them.